Three months ago, it was Charlston spread out on a canvas after a title fight - for the North American Boxing Federation championship. Charlston had felt humiliated after being knocked out for the first time, and his manager, Edgar Edwards, said he was shocked.

''I knew he was a better fighter,'' Edwards said. ''When he got knocked down, it just shocked me.''

''I had to prove myself,'' Charlston said. ''I knew I had to win, coming off that loss. When you go in 18-0 and lose a title fight, people start to think you're not a fighter. But I went into the ring and proved that I am a fighter.''

There was little doubt Saturday night. He dropped Peavy in the second round, breaking through with another jab and right cross; and he drove Peavy into the ropes, connecting solidly during a lopsided exchange in a corner.

Charlston knocked Peavy off-balance in the third round, ending the fight 1 minute, 18 seconds into the following round.

''I could see he was dropping his hand when I threw a jab,'' Charlston said. ''I had gone through some personal problems and this fight mattered a lot. I felt focused and did my job.''

Charlston next is expected to fight WBF welterweight champion Lester Ellis of Australia, who has been having trouble making weight for the past few fights.

Peavy was filling in for Armando Compos, who withdrew Tuesday because of an illness in his family.

Roy Simpson (10-11-1) won his third consecutive bout at middleweight, defeating Edwin Mata (3-5) in the only scheduled six-round fight. Simpson, who was shaken by a body punch in the third round, altered his style in the later rounds, going toe-to-toe in the fourth and backing away in the fifth round.

''I backed out to try to sneak-attack,'' Simpson said. ''I knew he was tired.''

In the sixth round, Simpson twice connected on Mata's head, each time knocking him down.

''He's got a big punch,'' Mata said. ''That was the difference.''

Three local fighters lost earlier fights, scheduled for four rounds.

Obie Hunter lost his pro boxing debut, a unanimous decision, to Rick Farnham of Tallahassee in a cruiserweight bout. Hunter took the initiative in the first round but could not maintain his fast pace - even for the entire opening three minutes. Farnham won every round.

Former kickboxing titlist Richard Mane was knocked out with a single punch by Troy Bradham (2-0) at 2:34 into the first round of their heavyweight bout.